What Unai Emery said about Emi Martinez following 3-0 defeat vs Crystal Palace
Emi Martinez’s future has been cast into uncertainty following his antics over the weekend.
Martinez wasn’t part of the Aston Villa squad for the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, as he is trying to force a move away on transfer deadline day.
Villa will be fuming with the situation, especially given Marco Bizot’s poor performance, where he was at fault for two of the three goals conceded.
Unai Emery didn’t speak much about the incident before the game, answering ‘Marco Bizot’ to any questions, but he didn’t shy away from it after the defeat.
Unai Emery doesn’t know if Emi Martinez will be an Aston Villa player at the end of the window
Aston Villa are still unlikely to sign Nicolas Jackson as he returns to Chelsea despite being close to joining Bayern Munich.
Crystal Palace have also beaten them to the punch for Jaydee Canvot, and the Villans’ summer misery looks set to continue into deadline day.
Martinez could well leave for Manchester United, who have shown interest all summer in the Argentine.
Conversations are ongoing between the two sides over a deal that could potentially see Jadon Sancho come the other way.
Any hopes of Martinez staying are fading, but supporters won’t be too disheartened by his exit, given their chants during the Palace game of “Marco Bizot, the world’s number one.”
After the game, Emery said: “We need players to be focused, 100 per cent. He [Martinez] wasn’t.”
The Spaniard also admitted that he didn’t know whether Martinez would still be a Villa player come the end of the window.
- Read more: Aston Villa to get ‘better deal’ with Emi Martinez replacement after Man United agreement
Diogo Costa could replace Emi Martinez
By offloading Martinez, Aston Villa will be saving £125,000 a week.
In saving so much money on a 32-year-old, and potentially getting a player in return, the Villans could get the better end of the deal.
Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa has been linked with a move to Villa Park should Martinez’s exit be completed in time.
The 25-year-old would prove costly, with Porto wanting more than £40million for the keeper, but he could be one to keep an eye on.
Either way, the Emery needs a new number one, especially after Bizot’s poor showing on his Premier League debut.
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